South Boston Today June 10 2021

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June 10, 2021: Vol.9 Issue 22

SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE

The BPS School Committee Is On A ‘Time-Out’

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here is a saying, attributed to Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni, that goes: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear,” meaning a teacher can light the way and ease the way – i.e., facilitate learning – but the learner has to walk the path.

Make Sense?

Herein is the challenge for the educators, administrators and policymakers of modern-day Boston

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June 10, 2021

EDITORIAL If You Use Southie’s Beaches and Parks, Please Keep Them Clean

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hough the official start to summer is still a bit away, the warm weather is settling in, and we’ve even had an early heat wave. And as we all know, warm weather brings on the urge to head to the beach and kick back and relax in the sun and maybe get in a refreshing swim too.

We’ve all seen the crowds, especially at M Street Beach. They are massive and so thick at times that just the task of finding a spot big enough to spread out a blanket or even a towel can be difficult if you arrive too late. Like it or not, that’s the reality of being blessed with beautiful sandy beaches right here in our neighborhood. They are a popular destination and an at-

traction that now brings in throngs of folks from miles around to get relief from the heat and to enjoy the good weather.

If we said that every local South Boston resident is ok with the thousands crowding their beaches, well, you know that would be a stretch. Clearly there are many who are not happy about it. But to repeat that over used phrase – ‘It is what it is’. So, here’s the thing.

Even for those who long for the days when our beaches were not so heavily used, if beach goers would just do their part to keep the areas clean, the number of complaints would be considerably less than is currently the case. On a crowded day, when there are literally thousands at the shore, the

DCR cleanup crews, as hard as they try, just cannot always handle the amount of trash brought in. It is overwhelming. The barrels fill up quickly and cannot be emptied as often as needed and the result is that the sand and grassy areas are a mess. Local residents don’t want to put up with this, nor should they have to.

In a growing number of other locations, beaches and parks have a rule called ‘carry in/carry out. In other words, whatever you bring to the recreation areas that is not consumed, take it home with you and dispose of it there – not here.

When crowds arrive at the beach in the morning, they find a clean litter free place to relax, or at least that’s how it should be. When they leave

for the day, if everyone took their trash with them when they leave for the day, the area would be just like they found it. It’s not difficult.

Most people are not slobs and do not litter. They prefer a clean environment and will do their part to keep it that way. If everyone who uses South Boston’s recreation areas would cooperate, it will make this summer better for all.

“A lot of people are bored with all the political correctness” - Clint Eastwood (Happy Birthday Clint)

BCYF Camp Joy Program For Bostonians with Special Needs Registering Now

B

oston Centers for Youth & Families, the City of Boston’s largest youth and human service agency, is now accepting applications for Camp Joy, a summer program for Boston residents ages 3 to 15 with disabili-

Publisher

ties. The program provides structured activities designed to help participants to make new friends, have fun, learn and grow.

Camp Joy will operate Monday, July 12 through Friday, August 6, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the BCYF Ohrenberger Community Center in West Roxbury.

Program participants must be between the ages of 3 and 15, be able to interact in a 4:1 participant to staff ratio and be a Boston

John Ciccone

resident (proof of residency will be requested.) Transportation is provided. More information and the application is available at Boston.Gov/BCYF. Enrollment is first-come, first-served until all slots are filled or

by June 18.

BCYF Camp Joy has provided thousands of children and youth with special needs with enriching opportunities since 1946.

Camp Joy also has a winter program component which

focuses on the same principles of inclusion, learning and fun. Both Camp Joy and Winter Camp Joy are led by trained, highly skilled program staff who create a safe and nurturing envi-

ronment for participants.

While BCYF is committed to seeking individuals with disabilities for this program, it is open to youth without disabilities between the ages of 3 and 7.

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June 10, 2021

Information Center The

Fauci In Trouble? Is There A change In Biden’s Border Policy Coming?

SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

T

hat Massachusetts has caught up with most of the rest of the country and eliminated pretty much most of the Covid-19 restrictions makes a lot of ‘virus fatigued’ people very happy.

The sheer pleasure of shedding those nasty masks brings smiles to the faces of most. How do we know that? Because we can finally see those smiles on those faces. Of course, there are some who are so accustomed to wearing masks that they continue to do so.

The face coverings have become sort of a security blanket and some folks are quite comfortable wearing them while both inside and outside, and, yes, even while driving alone in their cars.

This isn’t a criticism. Americans have the right to do what they wish. ‘To each their own’ as the saying goes.

The questions now being asked by a growing number of Americans is ‘Have we been played?’ ‘Were we being misled or even lied to?’ And on the main hot seat as people review the last 14 months is of course Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The thousands of Fauci emails that were only released after the Freedom of Information rule was forced on him, bring up some legitimate questions. Were mask mandates and lockdowns actually effective? And if they were, why is it that the states that refused to continue the mandates, lock downs, social distancing orders etc. fared better than those states that strictly enforced them? Why were their so many instances of contradicting edicts? Masks work, then they don’t, then they do. Wear 2 masks, and then back to one. At one point, Fauci even said that masks were more theatre than help and that masks could in fact be a health danger to some. And then there is the question of just where the virus came from and is there a major cover up?

Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, who by the way is a well

Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com

respected doctor himself, has questioned Fauci’s every move and motive almost from the beginning of the ‘pandemic’. Senator Paul has even come right out and accused Fauci of deliberately misleading and lying to the American public for personal financial gain. Personally, I’d trust Dr. Paul over Dr. Fauci any day of the week. But then again, I’d trust Dr. Pepper over Fauci.

In regard to the states that refused to follow the government advocated and Fauci pushed restrictions, the state of Florida comes to mind. The quote going viral on social media just might hit the target. It reads as follows: “(Florida Governor) Ron DeSantis did the exact opposite of everything Dr. Fauci said to do and has the most successful state and everyone in the country is flocking there in droves”. Is this something to ponder? Many believe it is.

Touching on the crisis at the southern border, there just might be something big happening. The Biden/Harris Administration may be rethinking its policy of bringing in hordes of illegal immigrants in what many believe is an effort to eventually turn them into Democrat voters. The suspicion has always been, that the Democrat party assumes that Hispanics will automatically vote for them if given the opportunity, so the more Hispanics there are in the country, the better the Democrat’s chances to win future elections.

But recent polling and the results of several local elections in heavily Hispanic Texas border towns have Biden, Harris, Pelosi, Schumer and the rest in shock. The elections were won by Republicans by large margins and polls show that Hispanics are now gravitating in massive numbers to the GOP. Why is this happening? What do the surveys show are the reasons? They are pretty basic really. Most Hispanics who

immigrated legally to America came for a better life. They like our country and view the Democrat party as trying to turn the United States into places that they have fled. Hispanic/American voters when asked their opinions on social issues such as traditional education, support for police and military, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the right to life and so many others, they are more aligned with Conservative values and positions than they are with the agenda of liberals.

These revelations seem to be causing the leadership in the Democrat party to hit the brakes on their open

borders policy or at least re-think it.

After all, if their politically motivated actions won’t help them win future elections and in fact could and probably would hurt their chances, their plans must change and change now.

Compassion was never really the driving force behind what they do, politics is. It has often been said, that if Nancy Pelosi thought for minute that incoming immigrants would vote Republican, she would personally rush to the border, trowel in hand, and build the wall herself. Well Nancy, you may want to start looking into making those travel plans.

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Window Into The State House

Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education.

We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives.

These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.

Janey finally fires White. But is he really leaving?

File under: ‘The Thing That Wouldn’t Leave.” Acting Mayor Kim Janey yesterday finally canned suspended BPD superintendent Dennis White, as expected and as reported by the Globe’s Danny McDonald and Sahar Fatima and CommonWealth’s Michael Jonas.

But the Herald’s Erin Tiernan reports on the possibility/likelihood of White proceeding with a wrongful-termination lawsuit. I.e. he’s gone but not gone. In related news, the Globe’s Joan Vennochi senses a dark force at work. Hint: His initials are G.R. The forbidden word: ‘Delay,’ as in start of Green Line X service They’re officially calling it “schedule pressure.” We could be wrong, but we’re pretty sure they’re referring to a possible “delay” in starting Green Line Extension service by the end of this year. It sounds like it might be a short delay, if there is one. SHNS’s Chris Lisinski has the opaque details. Speaking of the T, MassLive’s Jim Kinney reports that there may have been more than one cause for the March derailment of a new Orange Line car.

Officials are now looking at track problems that could have contributed to the mishap.

Meanwhile, T estimates RedBlue lines connector at $850M Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth reports on the T’s projected cost for connecting the Red and Blue lines in downtown Boston, via a somewhat short connector tunnel. The project, btw, is a long way off, even if funding is found.

‘Westie whites’: Another Boston school committee member resigns over racially charged texts Boston really is like the Balkans. A three-reporter team at the Globe reports that a second Boston

School Committee member, this time Lorna Rivera, has resigned over those racially charged texts that were digitally flying back and forth during a public hearing last year over exam-school admission policies. “Sick of Westie whites,” Rivera texted, referring to West Roxbury residents. But Universal Hub’s Adam Gaffin reports that West Roxbury pols also want chairwoman Alexandra Oliver-Dávila to resign for her own biting remarks about those ‘Westie whites.’

Senate prepping pandemic-policy extensions bill SHNS’s Katie Lannan reports that a Senate bill may emerge today that calls for keeping some popular pandemic-era policies, such as outdoor dining and remote public hearings, etc. A vote on legislation could happen as early as this week, ahead of Gov. Charlie Baker’s plan to lift the pandemic state of emergency next week. No word on cocktails-to-go. In other coronavirus news, from Cathy McGrath at MassLive: “Massachusetts schools ramp up COVID vaccination efforts, opening clinics around the state.”

It’s begun: Redistricting squabbles It’s the first among many disputes to come. From SHNS’s Matt Murphy: “As local officials wait for the U.S. Census Bureau to provide community-specific population data, Secretary of State William Galvin said Monday that legislation to put Congressional and legislative redistricting ahead of local re-precincting would be ‘devastating’ to cities and towns, putting him at odds with voting rights advocates.” Christian Wade at the Eagle Tribune has more on Galvin’s various complaints about some redistricting move.

Cause and effect: Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug wins FDA approval, stock goes boom

The BBJ’s Rowan Walrath reports the FDA yesterday approved Cambridge-based Biogen Inc.’s controversial drug to treat earlyonset Alzheimer’s disease – and trading of Biogen’s stocks had to be halted midmorning due the heavy demand for its shares. The company ultimately gained billions in value, needless to say.

Downsized: Communities trim, delay projects amid soaring material, constructions costs Cities and towns are not immune.

Communities across the South Shore are bumping into supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and soaring raw materials costs as they pursue infrastructure projects and the outlook is for costs to continue climbing, Wheeler Cowperthwaite at the Patriot Ledger reports.

Have a ‘heart:’ Cambridge council endorses alternative response squad Why pursue just one alternative to traditional policing when you can have two? Marc Levy at Cambridge Day reports the Cambridge City Council on Monday endorsed a citizen-generated plan to create a non-police public safety unit dubbed the ‘Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team,’ even as it pursues another model to reduce reliance on armed officers. Meanwhile, Jacquelyn Voghel at the Daily Hampshire Gazette reports both Easthampton and Hadley plan to begin sending mental health clinicians to ride along with police on some 911 calls.

The ‘millionaires tax’ debate: The arguments are shifting fast With the state awash with money these days – thanks to much stronger than expected tax collections and billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds – the debate over the proposed “millionaires tax” has most definitely changed, reports CommonWealth’s Shira Schoenberg.

June 10, 2021

South Boston Citizen’s Association Announcement!

W

e are happy to announce that the 2021 Evacuation Day Poster and Essay Awards Ceremony will be held Tuesday, June 15th at The Broadway, 6:00pm.

Winners and their parents are invited. Thank you for your patience and the recipients are listed below.

Middle School Essays 1st - Ian Rosher SBCA 2nd - Arianna Shepherd SBCA 3rd - Sean Finalen SBCA 3rd - Jaelynn McClure SBCA 3rd – Morgan White BLS Poster Winners 1st - Andrew Missett SBCA 2nd - Will Reidy SBCA 3rd - Brendan Banks SBCA 3rd - Henry DiNatale. SBCA 3 - Emma Halpin SBCA 3rd - Mary Cunningham St Peter Academy 3rd - Mairead Kelly St Peter Academy High School 1st – Thomas White (senior) BLS

Congratulations to All!

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

June 10, 2021

SENATOR COLLINS SECURES CASTLE ISLAND AND MARINE PARK FUNDING IN STATE BUDGET

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ecently, State Senator Nick Collins joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts State Senate in unanimously passing a $47.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).

During the debate, Senator Collins championed amendments to directly benefit the First Suffolk District and was able to secure significant funding for the Castle Island and Marine Park areas in South Boston.

This funding totaling to $500,000 prioritizes Castle Island and Marine Park maintenance, staffing, and programming. Including funding

for the Harry McDonough Sailing Center, which offers free youth summer camp opportunities for all residents.

Thirdly, the funding provides DCR assets maintenance, staffing, and programming across the city.

“Castle Island and Marine Park are essential green spaces and natural resources that need considerable investments, which is why I fought hard in the Senate Budget to secure these critical investments” said Senator Nick Collins. “These green spaces are some of the most utilized assets in the State’s portfolio, drawing visi-

tors from all over the region, and it’s imperative we continue make sure they are maintained for all to safely enjoy.”

Sponsored by Senator Collins, the Castle Island and Marine Park Trust was created and signed into law in 2018. As part of the legislation, revenue generated from the use of these assets get reinvested into them. “It is critical that we find a sustainable funding method to deal with the wear and tear and staffing needs at Castle Island, Marine Park, Day Boulevard and our beaches,” said Senator Collins.

Senator Nick Collins and Rep-

Businesses at Logan Airport are Hiring!

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ttend the Job Fair next week to learn about full and parttime positions As passenger volume begins to pick up, many businesses that operate within

Boston Logan International Airport are looking to hire all positions. These businesses are hosting a job fair on Tuesday, June 15th at the Hilton Boston Logan hotel, from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

More than 50 companies that operate within Logan Airport are looking for workers. They include Paul Revere Transportation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boutique Airlines, Enterprise Holdings, Hilton Boston Logan, Starbucks, Boston Public Market, B.Good, New Balance, FedEx

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Express, Legal Seafoods, Hudson Newsstands, American Airlines Credit Union, and many more.

Some of the full and part-time positions being offered are: Bus drivers; Car rental agents; Airline ground services; Hotel guest services; Wheelchair services; Aircraft cabin cleaning; Credit union service representatives; Various positions at restaurant

resentative David Biele also worked to secure additional public safety funding for Boston in the FY22 State Budget. That funding includes dedicated public safety and security at local state parks and beaches in the South Boston area.

and retail store locations throughout the airport - including retail clerks, sales associates, managers, wait staff, cooks, “front” and “back” of house; And more Under Massport regulation, contract service operators - companies that do contract work for airlines operating at Logan - are required to pay their employees a minimum of $15 per hour.

There will be limited parking for the event, and participants are encouraged to take public transportation to and from Logan. Shuttle buses from the MBTA Airport Station will run directly to the Hilton Hotel every 15 minutes.

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I Was Just Thinking…

I

by Kevin Devlin

t was refreshing, an invigoration of mind and soul to go to the pharmacy, shopping, the gym, and not see everyone wearing masks. For those who are so inclined, it’s time to throw away those masks and look at the world anew. But as far as I’m concerned, I’m not embracing the ‘new normal’, just the old normal which needs to be normalized once again.

And that brings me to Doc-

tor Anthony Stephen Fauci, the esteemed physician-scientist and immunologist who currently serves as the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) as well as the chief medical advisor to the president.

As a physician with the National Institutes for Health (NIH), Fauci has served the American public health sector for over fifty years. He became director of the NIAID in 1984. As a research scientist and the head of the NIAID, Fauci has made contributions to HIV/AIDS research and other immunodeficiency diseases.

In 2008, President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.

Serving as an advisor to every president since Ronald Reagan, Fauci has an impressive resume.

Yet being in the spotlight which he dearly embraces nearly every

BPS...continued from front page

Public Schools. And isn’t the primary function of a school system to improve the climate to support student success? Well, the climate appears to be quite hot at the top, and students themselves are questioning the capacity of the system, as structured, to provide the quality of education the modern world will require, especially post coronavirus pandemic.

If the fallout from the recent revelations of racially tinged, meant to be private, text exchanges between school committee board members Alexandra Oliver Davila and Lorna Rivera, tell us anything, it tells us that the system is deeply flawed. These texts took place during a meeting last fall, contemporaneous with then Committee chairperson, Michael Loconto’s episode as he was caught on a hot microphone mocking the Asian-sounding names of some speakers. He promptly was called upon to resign and did so.

The newly revealed messages were originally collected by the City last fall at the request of the Boston Globe, which sought all texts regarding school business that transpired during the meeting. But City officials, who gave the Globe dozens of texts in November, decided to keep secret the most controversial exchanges between Oliver-Dávila and Rivera (that issue is news fodder for a different day). And of course, these controversial texts were leaked,

June 10, 2021

single day for the past sixteen months, he’s no longer an honest man of science, He’s simply more like a dishonest politician.

Fauci initially said there was “no reason” to wear masks then declared it was imperative for Americans to wear them, possibly one on top of another, to stop the spread of the virus.

But that’s not the real story here.

Recently, he changed his stance on the possible origins of the virus. Initially he adamantly stated it occurred naturally but subsequently backtracked, saying the true origins of the virus should be investigated further. So, was he aware from the beginning that in all probability, the virus was man made in the Wuhan Lab (coincidences be damned) and leaked out to wreak havoc, intentionally or not, upon the world?

Fauci has also denied any knowledge regarding ‘gain of function’ research at this Chinese lab. Yet as a scientist he didn’t dismiss the need for this research.

So, was he aware and did he

but, nonetheless, in Massachusetts, under public records law, agencies have a responsibility to tell the person who requested the records if anything has been redacted… and why.

The ironic twist of these revelations is framed by the Globe’s diligence in unexpectedly exposing its endorsed leadership profile, represented by both Davila and Rivera, as being duplicitous. In her own words, that duplicity was subtlety proclaimed by Davila after being elected to chair the committee when Loconto resigned, stating in a Bay State Banner interview, when asked what the greatest challenges are that the BPS is facing, “ I think one of the greatest challenges is institutional racism. There are many policies that have been instituted over the years and we need to unpack them. We can use the Oct. 21 meeting as a learning opportunity. We’re going to be working with [anti-racist scholar] Dr. Ibram Kendi, as well as with BPS Chief Equity and Strategy Officer Charles Grandson. We’re going to be looking at BPS policies and how we work as a board. Another challenge is the district’s opportunity and achievement gap. We need to work with teachers and school leaders so that they have the same high expectations for all our students.

What is shocking, in the opinion of many persons reacting to these exchanges, is that the undertone, expressed by both committee members in their resignation statements, rationalizes their text com-

unofficially support NIH funding for this? Considering his emails which have been revealed to the public, you can bet your last dollar he was aware it was happening and that’s the only reason why he backtracked on this matter because he knew he’d be exposed.

He’s a crafty old fox and is adamant in his denial, deflecting his devious role by couching it in scientific verbiage so we’d be confused as well as convinced he was telling the truth. But the man behind the curtain has been identified, and that man is Fauci.

I know many Americans love and trust Fauci, but many don’t.

And rightly so because he hasn’t been honest. He should appear before Congress, and under oath, be forced to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. Because it’s time to know the truth, so those who died from Covid-19 can rest in peace and the world can be better prepared for any future pandemics without being misled by those who are supposed to be serving the people, not themselves.

ments as being born out of the effects of classism and racism that they claim to have been victimized by in their early years in Boston, living in West Roxbury. Taking them at their word, their leadership profile, given their years of dedication to addressing inequities in education, should have been manifested in their willingness to engage all stakeholders and seek reasonable compromise in order to incrementally advance their stated goals of ‘addressing institutional racism’ and ‘reducing the opportunity and achievement gap’. While some, including many in the media, believe that drastic, anti-bias based policy decisions are the recipe for change, the biases that underly this progressive approach has just been laid bare by these texts. Hence, the mistrust.

After this ‘time-out’, and after a period of self-assessment, perhaps the political leadership complex of the City will engage with and recruit the kind of leadership profile that at the very least might include 1.) the ability to communicate fearlessly, but with deference to the realities of a diverse school system; 2.) a conscientious self-awareness with the ability to empathize; and 3.) being principled enough to achieve results with reasonable compromise.

In the final analysis, does it not make all the more sense that “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear”?

June 10, 2021

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

New Interpretive Panels in South Boston Share the History of The Reserved Channel Enhancing the public realm along Pappas Way, the signage highlights key points in the industrial, port and military history of Channel

O

xford Properties and Pappas Enterprises have unveiled new interpretative signage highlighting the history of The Reserved Channel in South Boston.

Joined by representatives of Massport, local elected officials, historian and Suffolk professor Bob Allison, and community members, the team gathered on Friday, May 21, 2021, to view the series of eight interpretive panels, which provides details on the Channel’s evolution, and its unique role in industrial, port and military history.

“The Reserved Channel has always played an essential and unique role in the history of Boston’s waterfront,”

said Senator Nick Collins. “I thank and support the efforts of Oxford Properties and Pappas Enterprises to commemorate the history, and I look forward to aiding and participating in the Channel’s future.”

The panels are located along the Pappas Way Waterfront Path; established in 2012, the Path was part of a significant investment to improve the western seawall of The Reserved Channel. Visitors who walk along Pappas Way will learn the story behind the making of the Reserved Channel and its extensive development timeline, the reasoning of why the body of water is called the “re-

served” channel, the history of South Boston being chosen as a World War I and World War II port, and the Reserved Channel as it stands today.

“Oxford and Pappas are thrilled to be able to build on the investment along Pappas Way Waterfront Path with this new signage,” said Mark McGowan, Vice President, Boston Head of Development at Oxford Properties Group. “We are proud to bring the rich history of this area in South Boston to the public in an accessible way and look forward to being part of its next phase of evolution.”

Photo Credit: Katy Rogers

from left to right: Lisa Wieland, Chief Executive Officer of Massachusetts Port Authority; Senator Nick Collins; Tim Pappas, President of Pappas Enterprises; Mark McGowan, Vice President, Boston Head of Development at Oxford Properties Group; Representative David Biele; Councilor Michael Flaherty; and Councilor Ed Flynn

The South Boston Supply & Naval Annex

Castle Island connected

World War II Port activity

Reserved Channel Industry

The Reserved Channel is created

One of the eight interpretive panels dives into the history of South Boston being chosen as a World War I Port

One of the eight panels illustrates the base closures & renewal

One of the eight panels depicts The Reserved Channel today

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

The

Wine Guy

A Few New Ideas

I

don’t know what the weather’s going to be like, given what the month of May gave us, so here are a few warmer and cooler weather ideas…

2018 Macon-Villages, Henri Perrusset, Burgundy, ($19.99).

With this Macon-Villages wine on the table in front of you, you

might wonder what compromises it makes. After all, a bottle of outstanding white Burgundy can’t be had for less than twenty dollars, right? Well, once you open the bottle, you will be pleased to find it has sacrificed nothing. Offering flavors of luscious, ripe orchard fruit and citrus, and mouthwatering minerality, this cuvée from the southern part of the region abounds with the traits that make Burgundian Chardonnay so charming.

When you think of Rose wines, Spain isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind; however, the Muga brand from the country’s Rioja region has been producing better Rose wines year after year and the 2020 Muga Rosado, Rioja, Spain, ($14.99) is one of their best yet. Beautifully textured, this rosé is a joy to drink. Offering raspberry and strawberry flavors with a perfectly balanced dry character, this is an exceptional wine for a warm weekend afternoon. Now, if only we could just get a warm afternoon on

the weekend.

Italy’s Liguria region is one we should talk more about. A long, crescent-shaped sliver of mountainous coastline ranging from the French border in the west to that of Tuscany in the east, Liguria is a region of unrivaled Mediterranean charm.

The wines it produces—crisp whites and light reds- are designed to be had with all kinds of seafood and the 2019 Colline Savonesi Matassou “Vigneto Reine”, Punta Crena, ($29.99) is a perfect example. Due to its extremely limited cultivation along Italy’s Ligurian coast, it is an evocative and distinct—albeit widely overlooked—expression of this widely beloved region. You can’t go wrong with grilled fish or the Ligurian specialty, Pasta al pesto.

Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc, 2019 Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, Yolo County, California, ($14.99), is a classic interpretation of this French varietal at a tremendous value.

The winemaker’s notes sum it up

June 10, 2021

this way, “This beautiful wine is wonderfully consistent, vintage after vintage. At first swirl, aromatics of passionfruit, lime and candied lemon spring forward from the glass with notes of orange blossom, jasmine and melon. On the palate, the wine is refreshing with flavors of lemon curd, mango and passionfruit with hints of hibiscus. The mouthfeel is lively but rich, with a voluptuous texture. 100% stainless steel fermentation guarantees the fresh fruit character that fans of this wine have come to appreciate over the years”.

Every now and then, test your taste and nose buds. And feel free to: Talk To The Wine Guy at jdris8888@gmail.com

Americans Celebrate Old Glory On Flag Day, June 14th

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his coming Monday, June 14th, is Flag Day. This is a day when Americans celebrate the creation and the ongoing respect for the flag of the United States of America. Some call it the Stars and Stripes; others refer to it as Old Glory.

But by whatever name it’s called it is said to be the most recognized symbol in the entire world, because of the influence America and its culture has had throughout history.

‘That ‘Grand Old Flag, that High Flying Flag’ as the patriotic song goes, The American Flag, was created during the days of this country’s War for Independence, also referred to as the Revolutionary War. Early on in the conflict, when the 13 British colonies were in revolt against the English Crown, patriots from different areas of the land were fighting under their own individual banners. On June 14th, 1777, the Second Continental Congress held a special session and passed a bill calling for one flag for all the colonies to unite under. It was then that the process began to create a design that was acceptable to all the colonies. The design

settled on was an early version of what we have in 2021. The first American flag consisted of 13 stripes of alternating red and white color to reflect the 13 colonies. 13 white stars were then added to a corner of the banner which was a field of blue. History suggests that Betsy Ross, who later became the wife of George Washington, played a major part in the designing and even the stitching of the first flag. The rule would be that additional stars would be added to the field of blue as more colonies (now states) were brought into the union in future years. Today, 50 such white stars are in that blue field.

The American Flag is a symbol of pride for the people of the United States and should always be treated with respect. It is always flown from government buildings and is always the top flag on a pole above all other banners and often draped over the coffins of returning service members killed in action. But the flag code specifically states that any American citizen is allowed to have a flag over their coffin. The American Flag is also traditionally flown from the homes of

millions of proud citizens, who take pride in their country and want to show respect for Old Glory.

The American flag is a symbol that is near and dear to the hearts of most Americans. School children pledge allegiance to the country by turning toward it with hand over hearts.

Veterans and non-veterans alike stand at attention with hats removed and salute it as it passes by in parades. It

is never to be deliberately damaged, vandalized or destroyed in any way with one exception – an official ‘Flag Retirement’ ceremony where it is treated with and shown the respect that it so deserves. To maliciously damage it in any way is to show disrespect to a symbol that represents a free and proud people.

Old Glory is OUR flag – America’s flag and may it proudly wave forever.

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

June 10, 2021

Recent South Boston Real Estate Sales Property/Type

11 Thomas Park UNIT 3

Price

Sale Date

$707,500,

4/13/2021

Rooms Baths 4

2

Sq Ft 837

Condo 595 East Third St UNIT1

$772,000

4/2/2021

7

2

1,550

Condo 14 West Broadway UNIT 802

$770,000

4/30/2021

3

1

1,055

$760,000

4/15/2021

3

1

853

$750,000

4/30/2021

4

2

1,052

$750,000

4/28/2021

5

1

1,112

Condo 420 West Broadway Unit 301 Condo 30 Preble St 2 Condo 1 Mt Washington Place UNIT 3 Condo 53 F St UNIT 2

$750,000

4/30/2021

4

1

892

Virtual Community Meeting

PLAN: Newmarket Wednesday, June 16 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Zoom Link: bit.ly/34A50De Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 160 864 8327

Event Description The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) invites you to join the first community workshop for the PLAN: Newmarket planning initiative. PLAN: Newmarket, The 21st Century Economy Initiative will look at the needs of an industrial neighborhood in the City of Boston. The Initiative will work closely with the community to develop a vision for the area that incorporates a strategy for job retention and growth. Identified by Imagine Boston 2030 as one of the expanded neighborhoods, focuses will include land use, jobs, climate resilience, transportation, public realm, and a social justice and equity impact analysis.

The Workshop will focus on defining 21st Century Industry uses and Jobs in Newmarket. An overview presentation will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by the community workshop activities.

Interpretation and Translated materials will be provided in Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Haitian, and Cape Verdean Creole.

Contact: Arreen Andrew Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617-918-4423 | arreen.l.andrew@boston.gov

Condo 509 East Eighth St UNIT1

bostonplans.org

$749,000

4/2/2021

5

1.5

1,042

$739,000

4/2/2021

4

2

1,015

$735,000

4/1/2021

4

1.5

1,050

$730,000

4/15/2021

5

1

885

$725,000

4/30/2021

4

1

809

$720,000

4/22/2021

4

1.5

806

$699,500

4/9/2021

4

1

866

$690,000

4/9/2021

5

2

1,210

@bostonplans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Condo 30 Preble St UNIT

Virtual Public Meeting

Condo 64 O St UNIT A Condo 743 East Fourth St UNIT 205 Condo 337 E St UNIT 3 Condo 366 West Second St UNIT 5 Condo 53 F St UNIT 1 Condo 17 Middle St UNIT 4 Condo 62 O Str UNIUT A

$670,000

4/23/2021

4

1.5

972

$660,000

4/29/2021

4

2

920

Condo 99 Baxter St UNIT 3 Condo

601 Congress Street Monday, June 21 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM

Zoom Link: bit.ly/2SSHNcY Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 160 507 5360

Project Proponent: Biomed Realty LLC. Project Description: This will be a virtual meeting to discuss the Notice of Project Change (NPC) proposed at 601 Congress Street.

The Proponent has proposed a change from office to lab space. No other changes are proposed.

mail to: Nick Carter Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.5303 email: nick.carter@boston.gov BostonPlans.org

Close of Comment Period: 6/20/2021

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

10

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

Kearsarge Anchor Restoration Underway

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SS Kearsarge Anchor was removed June 4th to begin its restoration. The anchor will be restored by Skylight Studios of Woburn, who also completed the South Boston WWII Memorial & the recent 54th Regiment restoration. The concrete base will soon be removed and will be replaced with a stone base. The hope is this will be completed by the fall. This proj-

ect is headed up by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council and was made possible via a Community Preservation Grant from the City of Boston and a matching MA Division of Conservation and Recreation Grant.

Its history is that the Kearsarge Association of Naval Veterans decided that Boston would be a great location for a memorial dedicated to

Navy veterans. On July 19, 1930, the Kearsarge Memorial was unveiled by Boston Mayor James Michael Curley in Marine Park, here in South Boston. Under Mayor Curley’s leadership the City of Boston donated the land for the site of the memorial. The Kearsarge Memorial was dedicated to Naval Veterans of the Civil War, the Spanish War and WWI, (which, at the time, was just called the Great

June 10, 2021

War). A parade was held for the dedication and the parade’s marshal was David King, who, at 88 years old, was the oldest Navy Vet in the US. More than 1,000 people participated in the parade.

According to the Boston Globe, July 17th, 1930: “The Memorial is in the form of a fouled anchor weighing 1900 pounds and is set in a cement base. This is the only all-naval memorial in this part of the country and will be dedicated by the oldest of all naval associations.”

June 10, 2021

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

St. Peter Academy Field Trips are Back!

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tudents at St. Peter Academy are so excited to have one of their favorite past times back in their schedules. FIELD TRIPS! This year we were all so grateful to attend school in person. Now getting back into normal routines is a bonus. The students missed visiting

all the wonderful places and learning the history of Boston.

As soon as we were able, St. Peter Academy got right back into the swing of things. Grades 1 through 4 have visited The Boston Tea Party and The Swan Boats. In the next few weeks classes will be

attending The Aquarium, Children’s Museum and The Franklin Park Zoo. The last day of school will be on June 22nd with our Annual End of the Year Show at the Lawn on D. It has truly turned out to be a wonderful year!

There is currently limited seating in our School Year and Full Year PreKindergarten Programs. There is a waitlist for the K1 Program. Limited seating in our 3rd Grade classroom. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private

11 school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6.

SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler program (beginning at age 15 months) and for students in Pre-K (School Year and Full Year Programs), Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Financial Aid Available. Appointments for individual virtual tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617-268-0750 or by emailing m.blasi@StPeterAcademy.com.

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Student Council News!

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he first thing we all love about spring is that it is warmer, and people can spend more time outside.

The Student Council took advantage of the warmer weather and being able to be outside, that they beautified the school grounds recently. The students were eager to give back and embrace the spring weather by cleaning the school yard play area and front lawn. They planted

bushes and flowers and worked together as such a great team! It was a joy to see their huge smiles as they played in the dirt and found many wiggly worms.

The South Boston Catholic Academy Student Council, also, hosted a clothing drive to benefit Cradles to Crayons during this season of spring cleaning! What a great opportunity to support other Boston Families through a Boston based charity.

Cradle to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities. Their vision is that one day every child will have the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, be ready to learn and valued. Thank you, all our wonderful and generous families and friends, for their donations to this special drive.

As a special end of the school year treat, the Student Council organized a Carnival Day for all the students at

June 10, 2021

SBCA on Monday, June 7, 2021. As you can see from the photos, it was a sunny and fun fill day full of crafts to color and make and fun games to play!

A Big Thank You to our wonderful Student Council members and to Ms. Tynan, the Music Teacher, for her guidance, help and support with this year’s Student Council Members. We thank them for all their terrific and inspiring work throughout this very challenging year. Great job SBCA Student Council! New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy.org to learn more about South Boston Catholic Academy.

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

June 10, 2021

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This week, Danny shared his thoughts on the Boston Celtics’ latest shakeup:

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ews of Danny Ainge retiring came as a complete shock to me. As did the corresponding move to make Brad Stevens the new President of Basketball Operations.

So it begs the question: What’s really going on here?

Ainge has to be considering another job somewhere else. He just has to be.

I mean, why wouldn’t he want to see this thing through with stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? Those are two players he drafted because of the Nets’ draft picks he received from the trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn.

Last season took a strange twist because of COVID-19. This season was also abnormal for the most part.

And in the playoffs, the Celtics had to play without an injured Brown while Kemba Walker was also too banged up to finish the first-round series; a series in which they lost to the Nets in five games.

All signs point towards next season being back to normal, with full arenas, no more COVID talk, and hopefully a healthier team. But, you’re telling me that Ainge doesn’t want any part of that? Call me a conspiracy theorist all you want, but I find that very hard to believe.

And then you have the move to

promote Stevens into Ainge’s President of Basketball Operations role.

Do we really trust that Stevens could seal the deal on a blockbuster trade at any point this offseason or at next season’s trade deadline? Just because he might have a “great basketball mind” doesn’t mean I trust him making front-office decisions. But I guess the Celtics do.

But there is a smoking gun here, if you really do think about it. And that’s Stevens as the Celtics’ coach, which he is no longer. If the Celtics wanted Stevens to still be the coach and they wanted to hire Ainge’s replacement while keeping the basketball operations in-house, then, well, they would’ve left Stevens in his coaching role and hired Ainge’s replacement in-house. Heck, Ainge’s son, Austin, is the team’s Director of Player Personnel. Even he has more NBA front-office experience than Stevens. And again, he’s Ainge’s son.

Instead, the Celtics kept Ainge’s replacement in-house by promoting Stevens to that spot. The key point though is that they removed Stevens as head coach. Now, you could say, “Stevens wanted to leave the sideline and step into the Celtics’ front office.” Well, ok, fine. But that’s not his decision to make.

My point is, if Celtics ownership

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wanted Stevens to be the head coach of the Celtics next season, then Stevens would be the head coach of the Celtics next season. I feel like that’s a pretty simple concept to understand.

Something else to keep in mind here is that there were rumors a few months ago that had Stevens accepting the head coaching job at Indiana. That obviously didn’t happen, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Stevens turned down a seven-year, $70 million offer from Indiana.

Stevens signed a contract extension last August. This past March, Stevens publicly denied the Indiana rumors when asked about it in a press conference, saying, “I’m a 44-year-old Masshole, I swerve around others when I’m driving, I eat Dunkin’ Donuts, and I root for the Patriots.”

He sounded like a guy who was allin on Boston. And after turning down a $70 million deal from Indiana, perhaps telling him to pound sand a few months later wouldn’t be the most respectful move on the Celtics’ part.

But business is business. And at the end of the day, I have questions about how the Celtics are currently handling theirs. Perhaps Ainge’s surprising retirement was just the organization’s way of acknowledging

they need a new head coach, while also not completely screwing over the guy who just turned down $70 million in order to eat stale bagels and cheer for the team that used to have Tom Brady.

If Ainge doesn’t join another organization anytime soon, then that will lead me to believe that Ainge is still “unofficially” involved in Celtics moves, in one way or another. It would certainly make tampering that much easier.

Think Magic Johnson and the Lakers. Two months after Johnson stepped down as Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations, his “old” team acquired Anthony Davis in a blockbuster trade.

Much of that had to do with Davis needing to tell the Pelicans that LA was his preferred trade destination. Maybe Davis needed convincing at the time.

With Magic having stepped down, it could no longer be called tampering if Magic reaching out to AD. Look, all I know is, I’ll be the one saying “I told you so” if we see Ainge sitting with Damien Lillard at a Chipotle in Portland this summer, recruiting him to demand a trade to Boston to come play for new coach Chauncey Billups.

Follow Danny on Twitter and Instagram @DannyPicard.

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

SPORTS TODAY AINGE RETIRES, Tweet STEVENS of the PROMOTED Week TO CELTICS PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPS

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SBT Staff

fter the Boston Celtics lost to the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge surprised many in the basketball world by announcing his retirement, while also promoting coach Brad Stevens to fill the role.

Stevens is now the C’s new President of Basketball Operations, with the search for a new coach underway.

“Helping guide this organization has been the thrill of a lifetime, and having worked side-by-side with him since he’s been here, I know we couldn’t be in better hands than with Brad guiding the team going forward,” said Ainge in a statement on the team’s website. “I’m grateful

to ownership, all of my Celtics colleagues, and the best fans in basketball for being part of the journey.”

Celtics ownership had nothing but praise for Ainge, they also described Stevens’ promotion as the “natural next step.”

“Danny has made all the difference over the past 18 years – our record of winning percentage and playoff victories is near the top of the league during that time,” said Celtics Co-Owner and Governor Wyc Grousbeck in the statement. “He has always been a relentless competitor and a winner. Red Auerbach told us Danny is ‘lucky,’ and he was right, but a lot of the luck came from his intense drive and his incredible basketball insights. Turning to Brad is a natural next step, since we have built a partnership over the past eight years, and he is a special basketball mind.

June 10, 2021

WHATTOWATCH NHL FRIDAY, JUNE 11 Second Round Gm 7 (if necessary): NY Islanders at Boston 7:30 P.M. NBCSN

SATURDAY, JUNE 12 Toronto at Boston 4:10 P.M. NESN SUNDAY, JUNE 13 Toronto at Boston 1:10 P.M. NESN MONDAY, JUNE 14 Toronto at Boston 7:10 P.M. NESN NBA SATURDAY, JUNE 12 Western Conference Semifinals Gm 3: (1) Utah at (4) LA Clippers 8:30 P.M. ABC

We want him to lead us into the next great era of Celtics basketball.”

“I have loved every day I have worked with Danny and we have really benefited from his relentless pursuit of excellence and high integrity approach to the game,” said Celtics Co-Owner and Alternate Governor Steve Pagliuca in the statement. “Danny built a team that brought us our 17th championship, and leaves us with a great foundation of talent for us to build upon, including of course bringing Brad Stevens into the organization. To replace someone of Danny’s stature, we know we need a great talent evaluator, a great leader, and a great communicator, and Brad possesses all of those qualities in abundance.”

Stevens will have big shoes to fill. In Ainge’s 18 years running the show, his Celtics teams made the

RED SOX TO HONOR PEDROIA AT FENWAY

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SBT Staff

he Boston Red Sox have announced plans to honor former second baseman Dustin Pedroia during a pregame ceremony at Fenway Park on Friday, June 25 before the team’s game against the New York Yankees.

Pedroia announced his retirement in February. To honor him, the Red Sox Foundation is also offering fans the chance to join the “Pedey Fan Club” to raise funds for its many charitable programs.

Fans who sign up will receive a box filled with Pedroia-themed

MLB FRIDAY, JUNE 11 Toronto at Boston 7:10 P.M. NESN

items, including a trophy case bobblehead, a retirement hat, a greatest moments coaster set, and a laser show light up pint glass.

The “Pedey Fan Club” costs $115 to join, and all net proceeds directly benefit the Red Sox Foundation.

Those who sign up online at redsox.

playoffs 15 times, while making seven Eastern Conference Finals appearances, two NBA Finals appearances, and the franchise’s 17th NBA Championship in 2008.

Ainge hired Stevens in 2013 out of Butler University. Since, Stevens has led the Celtics to a 354-282 record. Now though, Stevens says he’s ready to put the clipboard down and step into the front office.

“I’m grateful to ownership and to Danny for trusting me with this opportunity,” said Stevens in the statement. “I’m excited to tackle this new role, starting with a wide ranging and comprehensive search for our next head coach. I love the Celtics, and know the great honor and responsibility that comes with this job. I will give it everything I have to help us be in position to consistently compete for championships.”

com/pedroia will receive their promotional boxes by mail in July.

Pedroia spent his entire 17-year professional career in the Red Sox organization. He’s a three-time World Series Champion, and was named AL Rookie of the Year in 2007 and AL MVP in 2008. He’s also a four-time All-Star, a fourtime Gold Glove winner, and the 2008 Silver Slugger winner.